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Jumbuck - Baltic Rally - Delivery Cruise Den Helder to Vlieland



Vlielands only the second island along the North Friesland chain, but we fetched up here yesterday evening after logging nearly 60 miles from Den Helder. It's not actually that far, but for some reason we found we were pushing against the tide all the way.

I'm assuming it's because of the shape of the bay, the Helgoland Bucht, into which we are heading eastward. In it's far corner three rivers, the Elb, the Weser and the Jade, all flow out. I am guessing the inward flowing tide meets those outward flowing rivers, and create a contra current that runs through the island chain in a virtually consistent east to west direction. But I'm only guessing. Tomorrow we really do need to get further east, so I will sail further out away from the Islands before turning eastward, and see if that's easier.

Tomorrow's plan is to make Borkum, the first of the German islands, and it's a 70 mile haul. That's far enough for us in a day, without adding more miles due to adverse tidal flow.

Yesterday's sail had a bit of everything. A stiff beat out from Den Helder to clear the bottom of Texel island, then a rollicking off wind run before SW'lies, using in turn the Code 0 and then latterly, the asymmetric. I really enjoyed it.

With luck we should them be able to complete another long day sail on Monday to Cuxhaven, and enter the Kiel Canal on Tuesday midday. They say it's a two day journey from there to Kiel itself, getting us to the rally starting marina three days before the event kicks off.

That's the plan, anyway.

Enjoyed a great meal last night in the trendy restaurant in Vlieland Marina. The waitress mentioned several other sailors had passed through over the last few days, all also heading for St Petersburg.

How do we rate Vlieland Marina? It should be 9/10. (A) Because the office was closed when we arrived, and still closed when we leave this morning, it's cost us nix. (B) The restaurant is superb. (C) Despite the Reeds Almanac saying it's only got 2 metres of water, we are sitting in 4 metres and it's low tide! I would have given it 10/10 except it's pretty queezy, with very limited room to manoeuvre a boat. Thank God there was only a light SWly when we got in. Parking in anything stronger would be a challenge.

So. It's 0430 and I've got to get ready to go.

On.On.


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